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Topic: The benefits of wood-rotting fungi (Read 1029 times)

As a mycologist, I wanted to make sure that the latest fungal research gets in front of the bee keeping community.Bees have been found to seek out several species of wood-rotting fungi. They have been seen sipping from the sugar-rich fungal roots.A preliminary study showed that access to these fungi substantially reduced bees viral load.One of the theories of CCD, Colony Collapse Disorder, is that farming use of anti-fungals has reduced the availability of these beneficial fungi.This is still being studied, it's not peer reviewed, and it's not conclusive, but I feel it's important enough for the bee community to know about it.

They grow on willow, birch, and fir, although the Garden Giant will grow with corn.

These fungi are assumed to help the bees through their anti-viral properties and thus contribute to their general well being.I haven't found any bee supply companies offering these fungi.I have found a couple of fungi supply companies that sell Mushroom Growing Kits for many of these species, but not all of them.The growing kits are just rotting wood, easy enough, and bees will find them on their own when they want them.

My goal is to help stop CCD, and if fungi can help with that, wonderful!I hope this helps.

I got some questions about this on another site so I wanted to add a few things.

First of all, I should call them mushrooms instead of fungi. People like the word better.For the record though, mushrooms are just the fruit of fungi.

Second, there is no risk here. This is just a list of the mushrooms that bees like, and evidence that they improve bee health.These mushrooms are already in the environment, bees already seek them out, mushroom growers see bees on their crops but don't know why.

In the wild, bears scratch trees and these mushrooms colonize the scratches. Then bees find the mushrooms on the tree scratches.

Anyone can buy some mushroom grow kits, put them in their yard and if bees like them, they'll see for themselves.All you are doing is bringing some of the old growth forest into your back yard.

In the magazine North American Permaculture, No. 3 Winter 2016 issue have a great article on fungi and honeybees. The article is on Paul Stamets and Dr. Steve Shepperd's work. I have follow Paul Stamets works the last few years. Plus, read one of his books.